Victor Osimhen: Man Utd Legend Hails Pau Cubarsi for Stopping Napoli Star in Barcelona’s UCL Win

• Victor Osimhen failed to shine in Spain as Barcelona dumped Napoli out of the UEFA Champions League
• The Super Eagles striker was man-marked by 17-year-old defender Pau Cubarsi all through the game
• A Manchester United legend has lauded the Spanish youngster for his performance against the Nigerian

Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has showered praise on Pau Cubarsi after keeping Victor Osimhen quiet in Barcelona's Round of 16 second-leg tie against Napoli in the UEFA Champions League.

The 17-year-old defender started the game alongside Ronald Araujo in Barcelona's defence and did an excellent job stopping the Nigerian striker from posing any threat to his team for 90 minutes of play.

The Spanish youngster's performance against the reigning CAF African Footballer of the Year earned him a deserved man of the match award at the end of the game.

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According to a report by Complete Sports, Hargreaves, who served as a pundit on TNT Sports, claimed the Barcelona defender was the best player on the pitch alongside Lamine Yamal.

"Cubarsi was the star of the show," he said.

"Lamine Yamal is different because he is obviously the winger. This kid [Cubarsi] was picking out passes for fun, and he made it look so easy."

The former Bayern Munich star also acknowledged the youngster having to go physical with Osimhen when needed in the match.

"He was physical when he needed to be; for a Spanish centre-back to be as physical against somebody like Osimhen is quite rare," he added.

"I thought his awareness, everything, he was just… 17 and his first start, he played ridiculously good. That is a star now and a star of the future.

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"Alongside Lamine Yamal, Cubarsi was the best player on the pitch. He's completely different from [Carles] Puyol, [Gerard] Pique was brilliant, but I think his long-range passing is better than either of those by far."

Onyeka picks between Osimhen, Toney

Sports Brief earlier reported on Frank Onyeka picking the better striker between Osimhen and Ivan Toney.

Top Premier League sides, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United are all linked with both strikers ahead of the 2024/25 summer transfer window.